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no Model.)

G. A. BOUGHTON.

BALE TIE TIGHTENER. No. 272,943. Patented Peb.2'7,1883.

N. PEYERS. Phoy h1hogmphon Washington v a NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE A. BOUGHTON, OF CHICAGO, ILL., ASSIGNOR TO THE WASHBUBN 8t MOEh MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASS.

BALE-Tl E TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,943, dated February 27, 1883.

Application filed April 10, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BOUGHTON, of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvcmentsin Bale-Tie Tighteners, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to produce a device whereby the ends of wire ties, used in binding bales of hay and such like articles, may be drawn up tightly in position to be secured together. This object is accomplished by providing a lever with a claw end or other gripping device, attaching to said lever an arm or rod, and providing on the end of said arm a second gripping device, all as will hereinafter be more specifically explained.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the use of my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the device embodying said invention Fig. 3, a side elevation of the cam portion with the cam-lever thrown back,leaving the gripping-jaw open; Fig. 4, a similar elevation, showing the gripping-jaw closed; Fig. 5, an under side plan of the device, and Fig. 6 an end elevation of Fig. 4.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the main portion or lever forming part of my said invention; B, the arm or red thereto bearing the grippingjaws; O, the cam-faced lever forming part of said jaws, and D a bale-tie.

The lever A, I prefer to make of iron, in the general form shown, with claws 00 upon its lower end. It should be between two and three feet long, (I have made them twentyseven and one-half inches,) and of sufficient size to withstand as much pressure as would ordinarily be applied by a strong man in using the device. The claws a are placed upon and grip one end of the wire forming the tie, when the device is in use. Instead of these claws, a second arm, similar to the arm B, and provided with similar gripping-jaws, might be employed.

Thearm B is simplya connecting-rod,whereby a connection is made with the other end of 0 the wire forming the bale-tie. It is provided with a projecting jaw, b, which forms a part of the gripping-jaw, which forms the means of holding said end. The construction of this gripping-jaw may of course be varied somewhat, so long as the essential features are retained.

The lever O is pivoted to the end of the arm B, and is provided with a cam-face, c, which is adapted to be turned into such relation with the jaw 11 as to hold a wire, which is placed between said jaw and said cam-face firmly.- Said cam-face is also preferably serrated to assist it in gripping the wire. A plate, 0, is also preferably attached to the side of the cam-face, and projects downwardly, as shown, to assist in holding the wire, and to prevent it from slipping out sidewise.

The operation of my said invention is as follows: The wire D is inserted between the claws a (preferably at the point where doubled, just back of the twist, as shown) and the two ends of the wire drawn as near together as is practicable by hand. The other end of the wire is then secured in the gripping-jaws at such point as can be reached thereby. The operator then presses against the top of the lever A with his knee, thereby drawing the claws and gripping-jaws toward each other, tightening the tie on the bale. The operator then with his hands hooks or twists the two ends of the bale-tie securely together, after which the pressure on the lever Ais relieved, the gripping-jaw is unclamped, and the device removed from the tie.

This device may be employed in coupling the wires of fences, telegraph-wires, and such like articles, as well as bale-ties, as it is capable of drawing any two ends of wire together, especially when constructed with a second arm and gripping-jaw instead of claws.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim-as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination,in a bale-tie tightener, of a lever, A, having claws a upon its lower end, an arm, B, having a jaw, b, and a lever, 0, having a cam-face, c, all substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of the lever A, provided with gripping-claws, the arm B, having the jaw b, and the lever (3, having side plate, 0, andeam-shaped gripping-face c, all substantially as described, and for the purpose speei- 1o fled.

' GEORGE A. BOUGHTON. [L.S.]

In presence of- D. G. UAHOON, F. A. HERRING. 

